Arizona Driving Laws for Seniors and Older Drivers

As Arizona's senior population grows (up about 6% since 2020), the percentage of licensed drivers aged 65 and older is also rising, reaching nearly 21% of all drivers in the state by 2022. Unfortunately, fatal traffic accidents involving senior drivers in Arizona are increasing as well—rising from about 9.5% in 2020 to more than 15% in 2022.

While the many rules and regulations enforced by the Arizona Department of Transportation (DOT) apply to drivers of all ages and stages, the state imposes some special requirements and restrictions on older drivers. Many of them focus on identifying and handling older drivers who might have become unsafe. Read on to learn more about these requirements and Arizona's special rules for renewing your driver's license after turning 65.

License Renewal Rules for Older Drivers

Drivers 65 and older must renew their licenses every 5 years, while younger Arizona drivers need only renew their licenses every 12 years, or every 8 years for Arizona Travel driver licenses (Real ID).

Arizona's Motor Vehicle Division (MVD) handles license renewals. While most Arizona drivers can renew their licenses online at AZMVDNow.gov, drivers who are 65 and older will need to visit an MVD office or a third-party license location to renew in person. Drivers over 65 have a few extra steps that can only be completed in person.

Older Arizona Drivers Must Get New Photos

You must get a new photograph for your driver's license every 12 years, or 8 years for the travel driver's license. So, all Arizona drivers must renew their licenses in person at the MVD every 8 or 12 years, depending on license type.

Because you must renew your license in person every 5 years if you're 65 or older, you'll get a new driver's license photo every 5 years.

Arizona Seniors Must Take a Vision Test at License Renewal

The state of Arizona requires everyone who renews a driver's license in person to take the vision test, including drivers over 65. DOT personnel will conduct a test for free. You can also have an exam performed by an outside ophthalmologist or optometrist, who must complete a Vision Examination Report and conduct the exam within three months of the renewal request. The form asks the examiner to explain how your vision affects your ability to drive.

Some Arizona Drivers Must Pass a Road Test

Most Arizona seniors can renew their licenses without taking a driving test. But the MVD can require you to take a road test if you report that you have a medical condition that could affect your ability to drive.

You might also face a road test at renewal if any of the following people report you might not be safe to drive and request an investigation:

• a law enforcement officer
• a physician
• an insurance agent, or
• another concerned individual.

Possible License Restrictions for Arizona Seniors

Arizona DOT can place restrictions on your driver's license. The most common license restrictions for older drivers in Arizona include:

• wearing corrective lenses (glasses or contact lenses), and
• driving only during daylight hours.

How to Request an Unsafe Driver Investigation in Arizona

If you have a medical condition that could affect your ability to drive safely, you must notify the Arizona DOT's Medical Review Program. You can file this notice by:

• phone at 602-771-2460 (TDD: 602-712-3222)
• fax to 602-239-6288
• email to [email protected], or
• U.S. mail to Motor Vehicle Division, P.O. Box 2100, MD 818Z, Phoenix, AZ 85001.

The Arizona DOT also accepts complaints and concerns about an individual's ability to drive safely. The DOT keeps the source of the complaint confidential and investigates directly with the driver, without sharing the outcome with the complaint filer. Law enforcement, medical personnel, and concerned citizens file most of the unsafe driver complaints in Arizona.

An Unsafe Driver Report From Law Enforcement

A law enforcement officer who stops a driver but doesn't issue a ticket might still request that the Medical Review Program evaluate the driver's ability to drive safely. Law enforcement officers can report a driver by completing a Driver Behavior Report form.

DOT agents can also use this form to submit observations to the Medical Review Program, urging a driver re-examination.

When Medical Personnel Report a Possible Unsafe Driver

A doctor, registered nurse practitioner, or psychologist can voluntarily report a patient to the DOT whose medical or psychological condition could significantly impair the person's ability to safely operate a motor vehicle.

The information must be in writing and include the name, address, and birth date of the patient. Medical professionals who submit such reports in good faith are immune from civil or criminal liability for making them.

Unsafe Driver Reports From Family Members, Neighbors, and Other Concerned Citizens

Anyone who knows that a driver has a physical, mental, or emotional condition that could make driving unsafe can report it. If you have direct knowledge of the unsafe driver's condition, you can report your concerns to the DOT by filing a Driver Condition/Behavior Report.

What Happens If Someone Reports You as an Unsafe Driver?

If you report yourself, or if someone else reports that you have a medical condition (like a seizure disorder or dementia) that might jeopardize your ability to drive safely, the DOT will open an unsafe driver investigation. That often starts with a request for information about your medical condition.

If you receive a medical review request, you'll have 45 days to complete and return it to the DOT. You must have requested reports completed by the type of medical professional listed on the form.

Once the DOT has received all the required information, you'll get one of the following notices in the mail:

• a driver's license medical eligibility notice (if you're still eligible for a license) with or without added restrictions and testing requirements
• a summary suspension order and revocation order (if DOT finds you're not eligible to have a driver's license), or
• a driver's license medical ineligibility notice and revocation order (if DOT had already suspended or revoked your license and turning in new information didn't change your eligibility).

How to Get Your License Reinstated

Arizona's procedures for reinstating a license differ depending on why your license was suspended or revoked.

If the Arizona DOT suspended your driver's license because you failed to submit a vision test, medical report, or driver evaluation, you can simply submit the information to your local MVD office. If the report shows you meet the vision or competence standards, you can get your driving privileges back.

For any other suspension or revocation through the DOT's Medical Review Program, you'll need to call the Medical Review Program office at 602-771-2460. Learn more about getting your license back after a Medical Review suspension or revocation.

How to Get Parking Placards or License Plates for a Disabled Driver

Disabled parking placards and license plates can be issued to drivers with impaired mobility. Parking placards and plates are also available for those who:

• can't walk 200 feet without stopping to rest
• can't walk without the use of, or assistance from, a brace, cane, crutch, another person, prosthetic device, wheelchair or other assistive device
• are severely restricted by lung disease
• use portable oxygen
• have a severe cardiac condition, or
• are severely limited in their ability to walk because of an arthritic, neurological, or orthopedic condition.

The MVD issues permanent disabled parking placards and plates. But temporary parking placards are also available and valid for six months.

To get a disabled parking placard or plate, complete the following steps:

• Complete and sign a Disability/Hearing-Impaired Plate/Placard Application.
• Have the medical certification portion of the application completed by one of the following health care professionals:
• a licensed physician (including doctors of medicine, osteopathy, podiatry, or chiropractic)
• an authorized physician assistant
• a registered nurse practitioner, or
• a hospital administrator.
• Mail the original application to the address on the form.

Veterans with 100% disability can satisfy the medical certification requirement by submitting a Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)-issued 100% disability certificate.

Note that you don't need to provide medical or VA certification if you're requesting a replacement placard or if you have a disability placard or plate issued to you by another state.

Learn More About Arizona Driving Rules for Seniors

The DOT website has a wealth of information for Arizona drivers, including the MVD FAQ page that answers many common license questions, including tips on reducing your wait time at your local MVD office. You can also download the Arizona Driver License Manual in English and Spanish and even practice taking the written exam.

Where to Find a Lawyer for Help

If you need help with an auto accident or traffic ticket, you can browse the free lawyer directories on Lawyers.com or Avvo.com, two sites that are part of the Nolo family.